The study examined the builders using five major areas, each one presenting significant challenges to the industry--land, building materials, energy, water, and climate change. The study, which ranked Los Angeles-based KB Home, No. 1, and Pulte Homes of Bloomfield Hills, No. 2, showed that out of a possible 42 points, the nation's top 10 builders averaged 6 points or around 15%. However, without KB Home and Pulte Homes, the average dropped significantly--an average of less than 6%.

The top 10 homebuilders, with their 2008 rankings in parenthesis:

KB Homes, Los Angeles (#1);

Pulte Homes, Bloomfield Hills, MI (tied for #2);

Meritage Homes, Scottsdale, AZ (#8);

Toll Brothers, Horsham, PA (#9);

Lennar, Miami, FL (#5);

DR Horton, Fort Worth, TX (tied for #2);

Standard Pacific, Irvine, CA (tied for #11);

NVR, Reston, VA. (last at #13);

Ryland Group, Calabasas, CA (#6); and

MDC Holdings Denver, CO (tied for #11).

Other key points:

Homebuilders are not maintaining relevant data regarding their impact on the environment.

Homebuilders, with their earlier preference towards regional policies and programs, are now making company-wide, national sustainability commitments.

Most green homebuilding initiatives center on energy efficiency and conservation.

The green building focus is on nearer-term financial benefits to operating costs and customers--building material recycling and energy and water efficiency–as opposed to longer-term benefits, such as climate change.

Homebuilders appear more cost-concerned when it comes to carbon regulation, as opposed to climate change’s physical impacts.